Coffee dispenser

ABSTRACT

A dispenser for dispensing particulate material, such as coffee, in any one of a number of different preselected quantities. The dispenser includes means for delivering the coffee past a preselected group of blocking elements controlling the filling of a corresponding plurality of receptacles. The receptacles are movably mounted for delivery of the ground coffee therefrom when desired. The dispenser further includes agitating means for improved delivery of the ground coffee, with means for effecting operation of the agitating means automatically as an incident of operation of the dispenser delivery means.

United States Patent [191 Karlen 1 Aug. 28, 1973 COFFEE DISPENSER3,086,684 4/1963 Flaaerty 222/506 x 75 l ventor: Har e R. Karlen Chica,lll. 1 n v y go Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves 1 Asslgnw yCorporation, Chicago, Assistant ExaminerLarry Martin [22] Filed: Feb. 91971 Attorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman McCord [21] Appl. No.:113,996

[57] ABSTRACT 2% F8 ZZZ/238 222/ 3 1 3 3 A dispenser for dispensingparticulate material, such as F]! .d coffee in y one ofa nu'nber ofdifferent preselected 1 "3 3 25 53 3 1 3 quantities. The dispenserincludes means for delivering 9 the coffee past a preselected group ofblocking ele- 5 ments controlling the filling of a correspondingplurality of receptacles. The receptacles are movably [56] ReferancesCited mounted for delivery of the ground coffee therefrom UNITED STATESPATENTS when desired. The dispenser further includes agitating 3,606,9659/1971 Cortelyou et a1. 222/368 X means for improved delivery of theground coffee, with 2,268,725 1/1942 Steel 222/368 X means for effectingoperation of the agitating means 1,294,187 2/1919 Sten r t al 222/233 Xautomatically as an incident of operation of the dis- 2,321,869 6/1943Stanyer 222/363 X penser delivery means 2,552,093 5/l95l Gollbach et al.l 222/312 2,779,512 1/1957 Steele et a1. 222/363 X 17 Claims, 9 DrawingFigures o o-g? 44 T 72 72 71 7 44 35 42 50 45 4 35 a3 31 Z 34 43Patented Aug. 28, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet l COFFEE DISPENSER BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates todispensers for dispensing preselected quantities of material and inparticular to dispensers for delivering particulate material, such asground coffee.

2. Description of the Prior Art In restaurants and the like, wheresubstantial quantities of beverages, such as coffee, are constantlybeing prepared, it is desirable to provide means for deliveringpreselected, accurately measured quantities of the beverage charge foruse in the large brewing apparatuses. At times, the personnel aresubstantially rushed so that the means for dispensing the beveragecharge must preferably be fully automatic while yet assuring highlyaccurate measurement with effectively minimum manipulation.

Further, because of varying capacities of different brewing apparatuses,it is desirable that the beverage charge measuring means be readilyadjustable to provide any one of a plurality of different preselectedquantities thereof. Thus, illustratively, where the beverage ingredientcomprises ground coffee, it is desirable to provide any one ofpreselected quantities of the ingredient in the range of I to 4-%ounces.

Further, where the particulate, or pulverulent, material tends to bridgein the hopper portion of the dispenser, it is desirable to provide meansfor agitating the material periodically thereby assuring proper deliveryof the material to the measuring means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION More specifically, the invention comprehendsthe I provision of such a dispenser including a hopper for storingparticulate material to be dispensed, the hopper defining a bottomopening for passing the material downwardly, means defining a pluralityof receptacles subjacent the hopper opening, means for selectivelyconcurrently positioning the receptacle in a first position to receivematerial from the hopper and in a second position to deliver thereceived material from the dispenser, and means for selectively blockinga preselected number of the receptacles in the first position to permittransfer of the material from the hopper only to the unblockedreceptacle for delivery therefrom of a preselected quantity of thematerial.

The dispenser may further include means for agitating the particulatematerial in the hopper as an incident of moving the receptacles in oneor both directions between the ingredient-receiving andingredientdelivering positions.

The dispenser may be arranged to provide a minimum preselected quantityand preselected additional quantities as desired.

The dispenser is extremely simple and economical of construction whileyet providing improved accurate functioning as discussed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a dispenser for particulate materialembodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken substantiallyalong the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a blocking element for use therein;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken substantiallyalong the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially along theline 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation ofa measuring chamber element for usetherein;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section illustrating thearrangement of the retaining elements for permitting withdrawal of theblocking elements; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating the arrangement ofthe means for mounting the measuring chamber walls in the dispenser.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the exemplary embodiment ofthe invention as disclosed in the drawing, a dispenser generallydesignated 10 for dispensing particulate, or pulverulent, material, suchas ground coffee, is shown to comprise a hopper 11 and a measuring means12 subjacent the hopper for delivering preselected quantities of theparticular material from the hopper as desired. The dispenser includesmanually operable means generally designated 13 for effecting thedelivery of the preselected quantities and further includes meansgenerally designated 14 for agitating the material in hopper l l as anincident of operation of the dispenser.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dispenser includes a front mounting plate15 and a rear mounting plate 16 I joumalling a shaft 17 adapted to bemanually rotated by means of knob 18.

- Measuring means 12 includes a plurality of elements 19 mounted onshaft 17 and cooperatively defining a plurality of receptacles 20, 21,22, 23, 24, 25, and 26 of different volumetric capacities. As shown inFIG. 3, shaft ,17 is provided with a flat 27 and elements 19 areprovides with hubs 28 having a corresponding flatted cross-section bore29 for mounting of the elements on the shaft for rotation therewith.Each of receptacles 20-26 includes a diametric wall 30 and a pair ofarcuate shutters 31 and 32 carried at opposite ends of wall 30. Themeasuring means further defines a pair of segmentally cylindrical outerwalls 33 and 34 concentric to the path of movement of shutters 31 and32. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, walls 33 and 34 are retained-betweenend plates 15 and 16 by means of upper retaining rods 35 and lowerretaining rods 36 rotatably mounted in the end plates and having slottedends 37 exposed at the front of front plate 15 for rotational adjustmentof the rods. The rods may be retained in place against axialdisplacement by suitable retaining washers 38. Similarly, shaft 17 maybe retained against axial displacement in the end plates 15 and 16 by aretaining washer 39 and a collar 40. Cylindrical wall elements 33 and 34are provided with lowermost arcuate retainer portions 41 for cooperationwith lower rods 36, and upper flanges 42 for cooperation with upper rods35 in retaining the walls 33 and 34 in the measuring chamber arrangementof FIG. 3.

Hopper 11 includes a lower connection portion 43 having arcuateconnecting portions 44 at the lower end for selective retention by upperrods 35. Connecting portions 44 further cooperate with flanges 42 of themeasuring chamber side walls 33 and 34 for retaining the upper ends ofthe side walls in position as shown in FIG. 3. Further as shown in FIG.3, agitator 14 includes a plurality of square blades 45 carried on ashaft 46 extending through a space 47 within hopper lower portion 43.The lower portion of the hopper defines a bottom opening 48 downwardlythrough which the particulate material is delivered to measuring means12. The width of the opening 48 is made to be greater than the sidedimension of the square agitator blades 45 so that the hopper may beremoved by relative movement of the blades 45 through the opening 48when desired.

As shown in FIG. 5, blades 45 are twisted out of the flat plane toprovide improved agitator functioning. Shaft 46 is rotatably journalledin end plates and 16 and retained against axial movement therein bysuitable lock washers 49.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, shaft 17 carries forwardly of front plate 15a sprocket 50. The forward end of the shaft 46 carries a small sprocket51 for rotation from sprocket 50 by means of a suitable chain 52 wherebyagitator 14 is operated as an incident of rotation of shaft 17 ineffecting the delivery of the measured quantity of particulate materialfrom the dispenser. As shown, sprocket 51 is substantially smaller thansprocket 50 so that the agitator blades are rotated at least twice asrapidly as the shaft 17 for improved agitation of the particulatematerial in hopper portion 47.

Shaft 17 further carries a dial plate 53 having an arcuate opening 54therein exposing a legend 55 Turn To Stop, and a pair of arrows 56 and57 showing the opposite directions of rotation from legend 55. The shaftis rotatable approximately 300 from the position shown in FIG. 1 in acounterclockwise direction until arrow 57 and legend 55 are exposed witharrow 57 being covered at the extreme of the counterclockwise movement.Alternatively, the shaft is rotatable 300 in a clockwise direction fromthe position wherein legend 55 and arrow 57 are exposed through slot 54to the full line position of FIG. 1. A stop bracket 58 is provided forlimiting the rotation as indicated. The position of receptacles -26 isthusly alternated from an upwardly opening position for receivedparticulate material delivered downwardly through hopper bottom opening48, and a downwardly opening position wherein the material in thereceptacles is delivered downwardly through an outlet chute 59 definingthe lower end of cylinder walls 33 and 34. At the same time that thereceptacles 20-26 are disposed in the downwardly opening direction, anopposite set of corresponding receptacles 20', 21, 22, 23, 24', 26 isdisposed to open upwardly for receiving a further quantity of theparticulate material delivered through the hopper opening 48.

Thus, alternate rotation of measuring means 12 selectively causesfilling of receptacles 20-26 with concurrent dumping of the particulatematerial from corresponding receptacles 20'26' and subsequent filling ofreceptacles 20'26' with concurrent dumping of the particulate materialfrom the previously filled receptacles 20-26 at the opposite extremes ofmovement of the measuring device 12. As shown in FIG. 3, the receptacledevice is in an intermediate position wherein the bottom opening 48 ofthe hopper is partially closed as during movement of the measuringdevice receptacles between their respective extreme positions.

As indicated briefly above, the measuring means is arranged to providefor delivery of different preselected quantities of particulate materialupon each operation of the device. Thus, as best seen in FIG. 5, thedispenser includes blocking means generally designated 60 forselectively blocking difierent ones of the receptacles and therebycorrespondingly changing the total quantity of particulate materialdispensed during each operation of measuring means 12. As shown in FIG.5, the blocking means comprises a plurality of block elements 61, 62,63, 64, 65, blocking receptacles 21(21'), 22(22), 23(23'), 24(24') and25(25). Thus, when each of the block elements 61-65 is installed, onlyreceptacles 20 and 26 (20' and 26') are filled from hopper 11 therebyproviding a minimum preselected quantity of particulate material duringeach operation of the measuring device. Illustratively, receptacles 20,21, 24 and 26 may have a capacity of /2 oz; receptacle 22 may have acapacity of l 02.; and receptacles 23 and 25 may have a capacity of 5 102. Thus, with each of the blocking element 61-65 installed, a totalquantity of 1 ounce of particulate material will be delivered duringeach operation of the measuring device. To obtain additional quantities,the user need merely unblock different receptacles by removing theblocking element thereover and permitting that receptacle to be filledduring the operation of the measuring device. Thus, illustratively, ifthe user wishes to deliver 23!: ounces of particulate material duringthe operation of the device, he would remove block element 62 and blockelement 65 thereby additionally exposing receptacles 22 and 25 having avolumetric capacity of I ounce and three-fourths ounce, respectively. Itshould be noted that by virtue of the indicated different volumetriccapacities, changes in the delivered volume may be varied by incrementsof one-fourth ounce betweeen the total delivery volumes of 1-96 to 4%ounces. As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, the receptacles20-26 may be made to have other suitable capacities and any suitablenumber of different receptacles may be provided as desired within thescope of the invention.

More specifically, as seen in FIG. 7, the receptacles are defined by aplurality of double ended, cup-shaped elements generally designated 66.Thus, each receptacle element comprises a circular transverse wall 67defining one end of the receptacle spaces at the opposite sides thereof.Wall 67 can'ies, at diametrically opposite portions thereof, the arcuateshutters 31 and 32 and carries hub 28 at its center with dividing wall30 extending diametrically from hub 28 the full axial width of thereceptacle element. Transverse wall 67 is axially asymmetricallypositioned so as to define a pair of k ounce spaces 68 and 68 at oneside of the wall and ounce spaces 69 and 69 at the other side of thewall. Thus depending on the side-by-side relationship of the pairedreceptacle elements, the total capacity of the resultant receptaclespaces 20-26 varies from ,6 ounce where two 54: counce spaces 69 are inconfrontation, to 9% ounce where-one ounce space 69 and a 1% ounce space68 are in confrontation, and to 1 ounce where two ounce spaces 68 are inconfrontation.

Each receptacle element is provided with an outwardly projecting flange70 for locking the blocking elements against axial displacement from theposition shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the blocking elements 60are retained across hopper bottom opening 48 by means of arcuate flanges71 receiving upper retaining rods 35. To install or remove the blockingmeans 60, the rods are turned to the position of FIG. 8 wherein aflatted portion 72 thereof is turned toward the blocking element therebyto permit the arcuate flange portion 71 to be free of the rod forinstallation or removal of the blocking element as desired.

If it is desired to remove hopper 11 from the dispenser, the rods arerotated 180 from the position of FIG. 8 thereby to dispose the fiattedportions outwardly to provide clearance therefrom by the lower intumedend 73 of the arcuate connecting portions 44 of the hopper. Such removalof the hopper further permits removal of the cylinder walls 33 and 34 byvirtue of the release of the upstanding flanges 42. Thus, as shown inFIG. 3, when the flatted portions 72 are turned uppermost in the hopper,cylinder walls and blocking elements are cooperatively fixed in thedispenser. By simple manipulation of the rods 37, the dispenser partsmay be readily disassembled as for cleaning and replacement. 7

Operation of dispenser 10 is extremely simple. The user need merely fillhopper 11 with the particulate beverage ingredient, such as groundcoffee, with the discharge chute 59 disposed in an elevated position fordelivering measured quantities of the ground coffee to a receiver, suchas a brewing cartridge (not shown). The user then merely rotates themeasuring device 12 300 to transfer ground coffee previously deliveredinto the upwardly opening measuring receptacles downwardly through chute59 into the cartridge. At the same time, the counterpart receptacles arepositioned upwardly to receive the next quantity of ground coffee. Thus,the next delivery of the measured quantity is effected by the usermerely reversely rotating the measuring device 300 to the opposite limitof movement. Thus, each time the device delivers a preselected quantityof material, it concurrently refills the measuring chambers potentiatingthe device fora subsequent delivery.

Rotation of the measuring device further automatically effects agitationof the particulate material in hopper 11 by the concurrent rotation ofagitator blades 45 thereby assuring a complete filling of the exposedmeasuring chambers -26. The total quantity of particulate materialdispensed during each operation of the dispenser is readily varied bysuitable selection of the desired blocking elements 61-65 for coveringone or more of the measuring chambers 21-25.

Dispenser 10 is extremely simple and economical of construction with aneffectively minimum number of moving parts while yet providing highflexibility in the control of the preselected quantity of particulatematerial to be dispensed. The device may be formed economically ofmolded plastic and formed sheet metal for further effectively minimizingcost while yet providing a long life, trouble-free dispensing means.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of thebroad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

I claim:

1. A particulate material dispenser comprising: a hopper for storingparticulate material to be dispensed, said hopper defining a bottomopening for passing said material downwardly; means defining a pluralityof receptacles subjacent said hopper opening each receptacle having anouter opening having a cross section smaller than that of the receptacleinwardly thereof; means for alternatively concurrently rotativelypositioning said receptacles back-and-forth substantially greater thanbetween a first position wherein the receptacles receive material fromsaid hopper to effectively fully fill the receptacles and a secondposition wherein said receptacles deliver the received material from thedispenser; and a plurality of blocking elements for selectively blockinga preselected number of said receptacles in said first position topermit transfer of said material from said hopper only to the unblockedreceptacles for delivery therefrom of a preselected quantity of saidmaterial, each said blocking element being arranged to fully block oneassociated receptacle when disposed in a receptacle blockingdisposition.

2. The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 wherein saidpreselected number includes zero.

3. The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 wherein saidpreselected number is at least one less than the number of saidreceptacles.

4. The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 including means forpivotally carrying said receptacles for pivotal movement between anupright first position and a down-tumed second position.

5. The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 fur ther including asecond plurality of receptacles, and means for selectively concurrentlypositioning said receptacles of said second plurality in said secondposition when said receptacles of said first plurality are positioned insaid first position, and positioning said receptacles of said secondplurality in said first position when said receptacles of said firstplurality are in said second position.

6. The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 wherein said receptacledefining means comprises a hollow cylinder having a tubular outer wall,a diametric cross-wall, and a plurality of radial walls dividing thehollow cylinder into a plurality of longitudinally related spacesdefining said receptacles, said tubular outer wall being provided withopenings to said spaces for transfer of said material therethrough fromsaid hopper to said unblocked receptacles in said first position anddelivery from said receptacles in said second position.

7. The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 wherein said receptacledefining means comprises a hollow cylinder having a tubular outer wall,a diametric cross-wall, and a first plurality of radial walls dividingone semi-cylindrical portion of the hollow cylinder into a plurality oflongitudinally related first spaces defining said receptacles, saidtubular outer wall being provided with openings to said spaces fortransfer off said material therethrough from said hopper to saidunblocked receptacles in said first position and delivery from saidreceptacles in said second position, and a second plurality of radialwalls dividing the other semi-cylindrical portion of the hollowcylinders in a plurality of longitudinally related second spacesdefining a second plurality of said receptacles, said tubular outer wallbeing further provided with openings to said second plurality of spacesfor transfer of said material therethrough from said hopper to saidunblocked receptacles in said first position and delivery from saidreceptacles in said second position.

8. The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 wherein each saidblocking elements comprises a shutter element removably positionedacross said bottom opening of the hopper.

9. The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 wherein saidreceptacles are of different sizes.

10. The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 further including atransfer chamber means housing said receptacles, said transfer chambermeans defining a bottom opening for passing said material downwardlyfrom the dispenser to effect said delivery.

11. The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 wherein saidreceptacle means further defines means for retaining said blockingelements in alignment with the preselected receptacles to assure saidcomplete blocking of each blocked receptacle.

12. A particulate material dispenser comprising: a hopper for storingparticulate material to be dispensed, said hopper defining a bottomopening for passing said material downwardly; means defining a pluralityof receptacles subjacent said hopper opening; means for selectivelyconcurrently positioning said receptacles in a first position to receivematerial from said hopper and in a second position to deliver thereceived material from the dispenser; means for selectively blocking apreselected number of said receptacles in said first position to permittransfer of said material from said hopper only to the unblockedreceptacles for delivery therefrom of a preselected quantity of saidmaterial; and means for removably carrying the hopper, said selectiveblocking means and said removable carrying means including a rotatableasymmetric rod and cooperating shoulders on said carrying means andblocking means for selective engagement with said rod.

13. A particulate material dispenser comprising: a hopper for storingparticulate material to be dispensed, said hopper defining a bottomopening for passing said material downwardly; means defining a pluralityof receptacles subjacent said hopper opening each recepta cle having anouter opening having a cross section smaller than that of the receptacleinwardly thereof; means for alternatively concurrently rotativelypositioning said receptacles back-and-forth substantially greater thanbetween a first position wherein the receptacles receive material fromsaid hopper to effectively fully fill the receptacles and a secondposition wherein said receptacles deliver the received material from thedispenser; a plurality of blocking elements for selectively blocking apreselected number of said receptacles in said first position to permittransfer of said material from said hopper only to the unblockedreceptacles for delivery therefrom of a preselected quantity of saidmaterial, each said blocking element being arranged to fully block oneassociated receptacle when disposed in a receptacle blockingdisposition; and means for agitating the particulate material in saidhopper as an incident of moving said receptacle between said positions.

14. The particulate material dispenser of claim 13 wherein saidpositioning means comprises means for pivotally reciprocating saidreceptacles about a fixed axis and said agitating means is rotatable,and further including drive means interconnecting said receptaclerotating means and said means for agitating said particulate material insaid hopper.

15. The particulate material dispenser of claim 14 wherein said drivemeans includes speed change means arranged to cause said agitating meansto be rotated faster than said positioning means.

16. The particulate material dispenser of claim 13 further includingmeans for removably carrying the hopper in the dispenser, said agitatingmeans being arranged to pass through said bottom opening of the hopperto permit removal of the hopper from said dispenser with said agitatingmeans retained in association with the dispenser.

17. The particulate material dispenser of claim 13 further including atransfer chamber means housing said receptacles, said transfer chambermeans defining a bottom opening for passing said material downwardlyfrom the dispenser to effect said delivery.

1. A particulate material dispenser comprising: a hopper for storingparticulate material to be dispensed, said hopper defining a bottomopening for passing said material downwardly; means defining a pluralityof receptacles subjacent said hopper opening each receptacle having anouter opening having a cross section smaller than that of the receptacleinwardly thereof; means for alternatively concurrently rotativelypositioning said receptacles back-and-forth substantially greater than180* between a first position wherein the receptacles receive materialfrom said hopper to effectively fully fill the receptacles and a secondposition wherein said receptacles deliver the received material from thedispenser; and a plurality of blocking elements for selectively blockinga preselected number of said receptacles in said first position topermit transfer of said material from said hopper only to the unblockedreceptacles for delivery therefrom of a preselected quantity of saidmaterial, each said blocking element being arranged to fully block oneassociated receptacle when disposed in a receptacle blockingdisposition.
 2. The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 whereinsaid preselected number includes zero.
 3. The particulate materialdispenser of claim 1 wherein said preselected number is at least oneless than the number of said receptacles.
 4. The particulate materialdispenser of claim 1 including means for pivotally carrying saidreceptacles for pivotal movement between an upright first position and adown-turned second position.
 5. The particulate material dispenser ofclaim 1 further including a second plurality of receptacles, and meansfor selectively concurrently positioning said receptacles of said secondplurality in said second position when said receptacles of said firstplurality are positioned in said first position, and positioning saidreceptacles of said second plurality in said first position when saidreceptacles of said first plurality are in said second position.
 6. Theparticulate material dispenser of claim 1 wherein said receptacledefining means comprises a hollow cylinder having a tubular outer wall,a diametric cross-wall, and a plurality of radial walls dividing thehollow cylinder into a plurality of longitudinally related spacesdefining said receptacles, said tubular outer wall being provided withopenings to said spaces for transfer of said material therethrough fromsaid hopper to said unblocked receptacles in said first position anddelivery from said receptacles in said second position.
 7. Theparticulate material dispenser of claim 1 wherein said receptacledefining means comprises a hollow cylinder having a tubular outer wall,a diametric cross-wall, and a first plurality of radial walls dividingone semi-cylindrical portion of the hollow cylinder into a plurality oflongitudinally related first spaces defining said receptacles, saidtubular outer wall being provided with openings to said spaces fortransfer off said material therethrough from said hopper to saidunblocked receptacles in said first position and delivery from saidreceptacles in said second position, and a second plurality of radialwalls dividing the other semi-cylindrical portion of the hollowcylinders in a plurality of longitudinally related second spacesdefining a second plurality of said receptacles, said tubular outer wallbeing further provided with openings to said second plurality of spacesfor transfer of said material therethrough from said hopper to saidunblocked receptacles in said first position and delivery from saidreceptacles in said second position.
 8. The particulate materialdispenser of claim 1 wherein each said blocking elements comprises ashutter element removably positioned across said bottom opening of thehopper.
 9. The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 wherein saidreceptacles are of different sizes.
 10. The particulate materialdispenser of claim 1 further including a transfer chamber means housingsaid receptacles, said transfer chamber means defining a bottom openingfor passing said material downwardly from the dispenser to effect saiddelivery.
 11. The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 wherein saidreceptacle means further defines means for retaining said blockingelements in alignment with the preselected receptacles to assure saidcomplete blocking of each blocked receptacle.
 12. A particulate materialdispenser comprising: a hopper for storing particulate material to bedispensed, said hopper defining a bottom opening for passing saidmaterial downwardly; means defining a plurality of receptacles subjacentsaid hopper opening; means for selectively concurrently positioning saidreceptacles in a first position to receive material from said hopper andin a second position to deliver the received material from thedispenser; means for selectively blocking a preselected number of saidreceptacles in said first position to permit transfer of said materialfrom said hopper only to the unblocked receptacles for deliverytherefrom of a preselected quantity of said material; and means forremovably carrying the hopper, said selective blocking means and saidremovable carrying means including a rotatable asymmetric rod andcooperating shoulders on said carrying means and blocking means forselective engagement with said rod.
 13. A particulate material dispensercomprising: a hopper for storing particulate material to be dispensed,said hopper defining a bottom opening for passing said materialdownwardly; means defining a plurality of receptacles subjacent saidhopper opening each receptacle having an outer opening having a crosssectiOn smaller than that of the receptacle inwardly thereof; means foralternatively concurrently rotatively positioning said receptaclesback-and-forth substantially greater than 180* between a first positionwherein the receptacles receive material from said hopper to effectivelyfully fill the receptacles and a second position wherein saidreceptacles deliver the received material from the dispenser; aplurality of blocking elements for selectively blocking a preselectednumber of said receptacles in said first position to permit transfer ofsaid material from said hopper only to the unblocked receptacles fordelivery therefrom of a preselected quantity of said material, each saidblocking element being arranged to fully block one associated receptaclewhen disposed in a receptacle blocking disposition; and means foragitating the particulate material in said hopper as an incident ofmoving said receptacle between said positions.
 14. The particulatematerial dispenser of claim 13 wherein said positioning means comprisesmeans for pivotally reciprocating said receptacles about a fixed axisand said agitating means is rotatable, and further including drive meansinterconnecting said receptacle rotating means and said means foragitating said particulate material in said hopper.
 15. The particulatematerial dispenser of claim 14 wherein said drive means includes speedchange means arranged to cause said agitating means to be rotated fasterthan said positioning means.
 16. The particulate material dispenser ofclaim 13 further including means for removably carrying the hopper inthe dispenser, said agitating means being arranged to pass through saidbottom opening of the hopper to permit removal of the hopper from saiddispenser with said agitating means retained in association with thedispenser.
 17. The particulate material dispenser of claim 13 furtherincluding a transfer chamber means housing said receptacles, saidtransfer chamber means defining a bottom opening for passing saidmaterial downwardly from the dispenser to effect said delivery.